[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Changes in Lebanon

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
Changes in Lebanon
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1182102821.shtml


   [1]Charles Malik reports on the effect of the the assassination of
   anti-Syrian MP Walid Eido:

     It's too soon to tell, but dynamics in the country are changing
     quickly.

     The war between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al Islam in the Nahr el
     Bared Palestinian refugee camp redefined the lines of Lebanese
     politics. Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun strongly supports
     the Army, while fellow opposition leader Hassan Nasrallah drew
     national - and, more importantly Shia - criticism for seemingly
     supporting the anti-Shia, anti-Lebanese, Sunni extremist, terrorist
     organization, which slaughtered 17 Lebanese Army soldiers in their
     sleep.

     The bombings in Christian areas seemed like repeats of the bombs
     that went off in 2005 - minimal casualties, out of the way
     locations, and Christian targets. Then, the popular West Beirut
     shopping district Verdun was bombed. Then, the Druze stronghold
     Aley was bombed.

     Although Shia-majority residential areas and financial districts
     have not been hit, the Shia population is as scared and angry as
     the communities who've experienced the brunt of the terrorist
     brutality...

     ...Eido's assassination has shaken the 14 March Coalition, but it
     has not brought out massive support for Hariri. If anything, the
     terrorist attacks and the effective government responses to
     terrorist threats are bringing more Lebanese to respect the
     government and goverment institutions, like the Army and the
     police.

   [2]More...

References

   1. http://lebop.blogspot.com/2007/06/after-eido.html
   2. http://lebop.blogspot.com/2007/06/after-eido.html